his tones low, for a wonder.

It must be stated that the troopers and those with them fought under a
better system, and were better trained, to say nothing of being better
individual marksmen. For this reason the casualties on the side of the
Yaquis soon began to mount up. Occasional yells, and the spasmodic
leaping up of some "warrior" as he was hit after a careless exposure of
limb or body, told that the renegades were paying toll.

On the other hand more than one trooper was hit, two being killed not
far from Bud and his cousins.

Nor did our heroes escape. For Nort received a nasty, but not
dangerous wound in the left leg, while Dick, incautiously looking from
behind his rock, to see the effect of one of his shots, felt a bullet
clip the lobe of his right ear, bringing pain and plenty of blood.

At first Bud and Nort thought Dick had been killed, for he fell back
with a groan and his neck was stained a bright red, his ear bleeding
freely. But after the momentary shock the lad raised himself--still
keeping back of his rock, and cried:

"I'm all right. That ear always was too long!"

"Good stuff, kid!" cried one of the troopers. "Here, wind some of this
on," and he tossed over a roll of antiseptic bandage.

Minor hurts were thus quickly bound up, and Bud, having received a
painful wound in the right hand, had to retire from the fight. He did
not actually go to the rear, however, but remained with Nort and Dick,
handing them cartridges to reload their weapons.

"Gosh! This is rotten!" bewailed Bud, looking at his bandaged hand.
It was dismay not at the nature of the wound, but because he could no
longer "pepper" the Yaquis.

And the Indians were being attacked with a vengeance and were being
"peppered" to such good advantage that some of them rose up and started
to run to the rear. This was the last running they did, however, for
the unerring rifles of the troopers picked them off.

And then the strategy of Captain Marshall had its effect. For suddenly
the troopers he had sent to attack the rear of the Yaquis opened up a
fire and this, being augmented by shots from the main body, soon threw
the Indians into such confusion that the end was only a question of
minutes.

And it came suddenly. For just as Captain Marshall was preparing to
order a charge, Snake gave a yell and shouted:

"The white flag! They're quitting!"

CHAPTER XXI

THE TRICK DISCOVERED

Truly enough, this had happene